haskins



(No Model.)

B. H. HASKINS.

SBIT TOON HOLDER.

No. 296,409. Patented Apn s, 1884.

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UNITED STATES,

PATENT Uneven.

BENJAMIN H. HASKINS, OF MEOHANIOSVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN YOUNG, OF SAME PLACE.

SPlTTOON-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,409, dated April 8, 1884.

Application filed January 28, 1884.

and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Spittoon-Holders, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, constitutes a specification. I

This invention is designed for use in parlor and drawing room cars, public receptionrooms in hotels, railway-stations, 830., and in most places frequented by both ladies and gentlemen in which spittoons are used or required.

It consists of a case in which an ordinary spittoon is held and concealed, and which, when closed, may be used as an ottoman or foot-rest. It is provided with a hinged cover and a surrounding foot rail, by depressing which with the foot said cover is automatically raised.

The construction and mode of operation of the invention may be understood from the drawings, in which an external view, in elevation and partial vertical longitudinal section, is shown in Figure 1. In Fig. 2 is shown a plan view of the base below a section taken on line 1 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows aface View of the hinge and spring whereby the cover is hung to the base or-receptacle for holding the spittoon.

Theinvention consists, essentially, of a spittoon-chamber provided with a hinged cap or cover and surrounded with a foot-rail capable of being operated by the foot when applied at any point in its periphery, which footrail is connected with suitable mechanism whereby the cover will be automatically elevated whenever the foot-rail is depressed. As subsidiary features, the cover is or maybe provided with a weight, spring, or equivalent device, whereby the case will be automatically closed when the pressure on the foot-rail is re moved, and its upper surface may be upholstered or otherwise suitably finished, so as to render the closed case available as an ottoman or foot-rest.

It is well known that ordinary spittoons as met with in public rooms and conveyances present very unsightly and disgusting appear- (N 0 model.)

ances after but limited use, and are very repulsive to persons of neatness and refinement and to ladies of delicate nerves. This invention provides means whereby the nauseating contents are screened from View, and the sickenin g odors emanating therefrom are secluded at all times except at the moment of actual use. At all other times the case constitutes an ornamental and otherwise useful article of furniture.

My device consists of a preferably-cylindrical metallic chamber, A, for holding the spittoon, provided with a broad flanged base, B. Space enough is left between the bottom of chamber A and the bottom of base B for the introduction and proper working of the apparatus necessary to elevate the cover. Beneath the under side of flange B depend the pivotlugs C, and to said lugs C the tilting-lever D is connected by projection E, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2. Tilting-lever D may be of any convenient form, provided it has provisions upon 'its two opposite sides-to the right and left of lug E-for hinging the annular foot-rail there with. Such provisions are shown in a slot or mortise between the two cheeks G G on each side. G11 the side opposite lug E the tiltinglever D is forked for the insertion of the lower end of connecting-rod H, the other end of which articulates with the lugs J J on the under side of cover K.

. Surrounding case A and a little above base 13 is the annular pedal-ring or foot-rail F. This ring is connected by two tongues, L L, with cheeks G G by pins, and freely balances thereon. On opposite sides, above lug E and over forked ends M of lever D, ring F has in wardly-projecting lips or tongues, N N, one or both of which are designed to find abutment against ledges O 0 whenever the foot-rail is depressed. Tongue N and base B are both perforated for the passage of rod H. The ledges O 0 project from the side of the case A at an elevation suitable for leaving tongues N N nearly or quite in contact therewith when the cover is down, as in Fig. l.

The lid or cover K is hinged to the case A by means of hinge-lugs Q Q, on the cover and R B on the case, as in Fig. 3. Through said lugs passes the pin S, and around said pin S is coiled a wire spring, T. The upper ends ofthe Wire forming said spring are inserted in the rim of the cover K, as shown at a in Fig. 1, and the bent loop b below pin S bears against the exterior of case A. The force of this spring is exerted in the direction of closing the cover when the same is elevated. The inclosed spittoon or cuspidor is seen at WV, and consists of any ordinary vessel suitable for the purpose which can be easily removed and cleaned.

If desired, chamber A may itself be adapted to and used as a spittoon, thus dispensing with a separate vessel for the purpose.

The case may be opened for use by simply pressing the rail F down with the foot, such depression causing lever D to be correspondingly depressed, and through connecting-rod H causing the cover to swing upon its hinge into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Upon removing the foot from the rail, spring T exerts its force and gently throws the cover down again into its first position.

I am aware that spittoon-holders provided with upholstered hinged covers and a centrally-located lever with foot-pad at its outer end projecting outside of or beyond the periphery of the case on one side only have heretofore been used. My invention as hereinbefore described differs from such in having a f0ot-pad which extends entirely around the holder or case in the form of the described pedal-rail, which construction possesses advantages over the single central lever aforesaid in offering facilities for opening the case on whatever side the same may be approached.- This obviates whirling the spittoon around so as to bring the foot-pad opposite the user,

and contents, and in general renders the article much more convenient.

I claim as my invention- 1. A spittoon-case or a spittoon provided with a hinged cover encircled with a pedalrail having provisions for engaging with stationary fulcrum-points on said case, and capable of depression at all points of its periphery, in combination with mechanism connecting said pedal-rail with said hinged cover, adapted to secure the elevation of said cover by the depression of said pedal-rail, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially in the manner described, and for the purposes set forth.

2 A circumambient pedal-rail having provisions for engaging with fulcrum-ledges on the spittoon-case or spittoon, in combination with mechanism connecting said rail with the cover of the spittoon-case or spittoon, whereby said case'or spittoon will be uncovered by the act of depressing said rail at any point in its periphery, substantially in the manner described and set forth.

3. A spittoon case or holder having a chamber for the reception of the spittoon, a hinged cover adapted to be used as an ottoman or foot-rest, and provided with mechanism whereby said cover may be raised, so as to open said case for use, by the depression of an encircling foot-rail, substantially in the manner described and set forth. 1

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 3d day of December, A. D. 1883.

BENJAMIN H. HASKINS.

In presence of FRANKLIN Sco'rr, JOHN NEUMAN. 

